The launch of an international design competition will be the next major step in the vision to transform Union Terrace Gardens.

A majority of Aberdeen city councillors voted at yesterday's Full Council meeting to move the proposals for the city centre gardens on to the next stage.

In May, the full council voted to approve the offer of £50million from Sir Ian Wood and agreed in principle to send the concept of renewing the gardens to an international competition.

Today's full council meeting considered and approved a report detailing the next steps in the project – and designers and architects from across the globe will soon be invited to submit proposals for a new-look city centre gardens which will be more accessible and with a cultural centre at its heart.

Design competition costs will be met by up to 50% by Sir Ian up to a maximum of £400,000, with the balance borne by the private sector.

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The proposals for the gardens are part of more wide-ranging plans to regenerate the city centre and produce a City Centre Development Framework for discussion and public debate.

The design brief for the competition will take full account of public feedback from the consultations undertaken by Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (ACSEF) on its concept for the gardens. It will consider the results of the engineering feasibility study of the proposed gardens area, delivery of the project for £120–140million, walk-on/walk-off access from all sides, and compliance with the city centre framework. The brief will also take account of, but not be constrained by, the existing planning permission for a contemporary arts centre in the gardens.

The concept of covering Denburn Road and the railway line next to the two-and-a-half acre park will create a five-acre civic space. The vision is to create new "green oasis" gardens at least the size of the existing and taking account of the topography of the area, and not a flat concrete plaza.

Aberdeen City Council Leader Councillor John Stewart said: "The Council took the decision at its last meeting in May on the direction in wants to take with Union Terrace Gardens. Now we have to explore the full potential of the gardens to contribute to a vibrant city centre.

"We have taken no final decisions. All we are doing is moving on to the next stage in the process. If the council is not happy at any stage, we can pull back. If the finances are not right, we can call a halt.

"Clearly there are risks – and what we have to do now is assess and evaluate them. The only way to do that is move forward to the next stage of the project. To stop now would leave us all wondering 'what if'."

(GK)